It's a Plane Etiquette one!! Was I AIBU?

[Belladonna90]

Night flight back from the US.
Cabin crew do meal service at around 4am (UK time) around 11pm (US). I'm hoping not to go to bed when I land (so can beat the jet lag and not stay in US time!). In economy class and have the blanket over my head so I can sleep (need the 'room' to be as dark as possible'). I had my seat reclined in the belief that chicken or beef would not be served at this time. How wrong I was! Cabin Crew passes me with meal trolley (happily doesn't disturb me to ask whether I want a meal...at that time absolutely not!). However, when she is asking the passenger behind me she reclines my seat back up which startled the life out of me as I was jostled back up!! I was so annoyed as I was fast asleep. I can understand for a safety related issue if she needed to do that for example for landing but for a service related issue it seemed completely rude of her. Was I wrong to challenge her and ask why she did that?? She told me for service all seats must be in the upright position....

Annoying for you, but the alternative was for her to wake you and ask you to put the seat upright. She likely thought this was the less disturbing of the two options. I'm surprised you were able to be so soundly asleep when they were int the process of serving food and asking everyone what they'll have.

YWBU to 'challenge' on this issue. I thought most people knew that seats must be upright when meals are served.

Fly in business next time! You were very rude and inconsiderate

YABU - I think etiquette on a plane is don’t put seats back till food service is complete. It’s very uncomfortable to try and eat a meal with the person in front’s seat reclined.

Seats obviously need to be up during meal service. She should have tried to speak to you before physically moving the chair upright but perhaps she did and you didn’t hear.

I'm so sorry you had to slum it with BA.
YABU.

I would have expected them to wake you up and ask you move your seat, not just move it.

I've never had this when I have travelled with Emirates or Singapore whose cabin crew are in another league. This was with BA....

I've travelled with those airlines countless times and I've never seen a passenger with their seat reclined during meal service.

Singapore airlines were the same when we flew a few months ago, meals shortly after take off and all seats up though I do agree their cabin crew are amazing!
Yes, she could have asked rather than just done it but YWBU to expect to have your seat reclined during meal service

How were you expecting them to eat OP?

More Primadonna than Bella I think.

The issue isn't with the staff or the airline. Don't try and blame them.

The issue is with your selfish attitude.

Of course the person behind should be able to use their table. The world doesn't revolve around you.

I once got moved to business class because the bloke on front of me refused to move his seat upright. That was emirates. He argued with the cabin crew for ages first.

Yeah you were being unreasonable

I wish airlines would get rid of the recline.

I’ve flown with Singapore and Emirates a lot, seats always had to be upright for service and if people refused or couldn’t be roused staff would put them upright themselves.

Seats up for meal service in economy. That’s the case in emirates air Nz Qantas Malaysian ba singapore etc etc. I fly around the world a lot and that’s the deal - if you haven’t struck it before that’s just good luck / chance / crew not following the rules.

i totally hear what you’re saying about trying to get on local time as soon as you’re on the plane - that’s my tactic and why I go back row to recline (or use points or pay for an item on departure upgrade : cheapest way I’ve found to fly business if you’ve not got points)

It's common practice for seats to be upright for meals, including on Singapore airlines so your statement is either false or you were unlucky with dodgy, poorly trained crew on your previous Singapore flights

We flew red eye norse and it was fine eatibg with people reclined.
(A bigger problem was dd got the choc pudding all over her.

Result!!!

OP, you wanting to minimise jet lag doesn't take priority over meal service in economy class. YABU

Is it possible cabin crew tried to get you to put your seat up? "Madam.... madam... please put your seat up for meal service... madam". Oh she's asleep, F it I'll do it myself.

It's etiquette to wait til meal service is over before you recline, including emirates and the like

On every airline I have been on (From Air New Zealand to Aeroflot) they ask / demand seats in upright position during meal service.

YABVU.

But they could have woken you more gently.

How on earth do you expect the person behind you to be able to eat with your seat reclined?

I am a bit shocked anyone thought you reasonable.

I'm sorry OP but you're so entitled.